Collecting vintage silver is a nice hobby, actually using it is inspired living.

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Category Archives: Vintage Silver Eye Candy

They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem…well I have a problem, but I’m not sure I want to recover from it. Today’s eye candy is provided by this vintage silver berry spoon photographed against a very modern piece of ocean-inspired ceramic work from the awesomely talented Heather Knight of Element Clay Studio.

Silver Berry Spoon Eye Candy

Observant readers will have noticed that lots of Heather’s work shows up in my photography. Her Coral and Clam pieces are utterly exquisite and I purchase them all too frequently. The juxtaposition of the unglazed ever-so-slightly rough porcelain on the exterior, the intense interior glazes (I favor the cerulean and copper blue colors myself) and those shapes!!

But what really puts it over the edge for me is to pair these bold and sleek pieces with a piece of very traditional silver. This silver berry spoon is a great example. Really, it doesn’t get much more ‘traditional’ than Strasbourg by Gorham. Can’t you see that perfectly symmetrical, French rococo-inspired scrollwork down the handle looking oh-so-proper on a formal table.

But our Strasbourg silver berry spoon has a secret wild-child inside. Put her in this very modern scene and step back in wonder as you see just how well she fits in. Suddenly the highly polished gold-washed bowl is in striking contrast against the crackled glaze. See how the scallops along the edge of the handle faintly echo the irregular, organic scalloped edges of the bowl.

You’d be amazed at just how many other pieces of ‘formal’ silver can perform this exact same transformation. Don’t be afraid to try it in the privacy of your own home 😉 Honestly, Miss Manners is not going to criticize if you let your secret side take a star turn.

PS

As always when doing a shout-out I like to remind you that I have no financial/affiliate/marketing relationship with Heather Knight or Element Clay Studio. I am lucky enough to have her work because I make (regular retail price) purchases and adore how it looks with my personal silver collection, not because we have a ‘deal’. There are lots of ‘deals’ around…I just want you to be clear on where I stand.